Chapter Sixteen

For a second, Asa gave her a look like a deer caught in headlights before his face went blank. "What makes you think he has something against our family?"

"Cut the crap grandpa. I know about the files he had on BE and how he wants to ruin the family… why?"

"It isn't important…"

"Yes it is." Natalie continued to press. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me the truth."

Asa looked at his granddaughter for a few more seconds then sighed. "You're the most stubborn person I know."

"I must get it from you."

Seeing so much of himself in her, Asa couldn't help but smile. But the smile soon vanished as he stood up and poured himself a drink.

"A few months ago I broke into Spencer's office and found this photo." Asa reached into one of the drawers and handed it to her. It was of a young blonde woman, probably taken about fifty years ago. "It's his mother."

"You knew her?" Natalie asked, handing the photo back.

Asa nodded. "She worked out on our properties in Texas. Seemed like a nice, young girl. Well, after one of my marriages ended, I headed out there for a few days to be alone and she was working."

Knowing her grandfather's history with women, Natalie could see where this was going and forced herself not to react. "You slept with her." she kept her voice flat and direct.

Not enjoying talking about something like this with his granddaughter, Asa slightly flushed and took a drink. "Yes. It was just the one time, but the second it was over she bolted. The next day the Texas police showed up at my door to arrest me for rape." Seeing his granddaughter's expression Asa brought his fist down on the desk making her jump. "I did not rape her."

Natalie remained silent, allowing him to continue.

"They arrested and charged me. After I got out on bail she came to see me. Told me for a hundred thousand dollars it would go away." Asa took another sip. "That bitch tried to extort me."

"And you didn't put up with it did you?" Natalie asked knowing what her grandfather was capable of.

Asa shook his head. "Like hell I did. I worked too damn hard to build this company; I wasn't going to let that lying she-devil ruin everything. I told her she could go to hell. I hired some people; they made the charge go away because there was no evidence. Then they set out on her."

"What did they do?"

Asa laughed warily. "They destroyed her. Caused her to lose her job, her house and arranged it so she suddenly had horrible credit. Finally they planted drugs on her and ensured she was arrested for it. She was sentenced to five years in prison."

"Where is she now?"

Asa looked down at the desk, seeming slightly guilty. When he raised his eyes to meet hers, she knew before he even said the words. "She killed herself in prison."

Natalie took a shaky breath and wasn't sure how she felt about everything she had just heard. She had always known her grandfather had a "don't mess with me or my family" attitude but to know he willingly destroyed a woman's life like this. She forced herself to remember that the woman had tried to extort him.

Seeing how quiet she had become, Asa gulped down the rest of his drink. "She was about ready to destroy my life. I did what had to be done."

"What about Spencer?" Natalie finally asked.

Asa just shrugged. "I didn't even know she had a kid."

Natalie remained quiet for a second before something clicked. "How long ago was this?"

"About forty-five years ago."

"Grandpa…… the other day, I overheard Blair say she was taking Spencer out for his forty-fifth birthday…" Asa's face went white, and his eyes widened, but Natalie had to continue. "Is it possible he's your son?"

Asa remained completely frozen and silent for a few minutes and Natalie took that as her cue to leave. Standing up she went behind the desk and gave him a quick hug. "I love you grandpa, no matter what."

As she was leaving the room, she looked back one last time at a still motionless Asa. "Grandpa?"

"Yeah?" he choked out his voice shaky.

"You don't need to worry, I won't tell anyone about this."

Asa just nodded and Natalie left the room, also in a slight state of shock. She had planned on telling Asa about Spencer's involvement with Walter. But after seeing what a number the possibility that Spencer was his son, had done to Asa, Natalie decided it wasn't important.

Realizing that she didn't have her car, Natalie opted to walk the distance to Llanfair, but was stopped outside the property by Nash.

"Do you need a life somewhere?" he asked as he rolled down his car window.

Natalie hesitated. As much as she wasn't happy about Nash's presence in Jessica's life, Natalie had to admit he really did care about her sister.

"Are you heading to Llanfair?" she finally asked.

Nash nodded, and Natalie made her way over to the passenger side. "Thank you," she said trying not to sound too cold.

After taking her cell phone out of her purse, Natalie dialed John and left a message for him telling him to pack a bag and meet her at the airport in an hour. Once she was finished Nash curiously glanced over at her.

"Where are you headed?"

Natalie bit back a snide comment and forced a small smile. "I can't really say, it's related to the case I am helping John on."

"Oh." Nash paused for a few minutes and continued to drive. Finally he spoke again, "You and Jessica are close right?"

Natalie nodded. "Very close."

"How do you deal with it? How do you live knowing what that bastard did to her as a child and not let it affect you? How do you look at her and not feel pity knowing what she went though? How do you help her through it?"

Sighing Natalie thought about it for a second before answering. "I start by reminding myself that our parents and family already pity her. Then I remind myself that she has a whole team of doctors trying to help her. Then I put myself in her position. Would I want everyone's pity? No. Would I want to be looked at differently? No. Would I want to be treated like a piece of glass? No. Those are the things I keep in mind. So then when I see her, I don't treat her any differently, I act like she is the same Jessica and continue to be there for her. This is something that Jessica is going to have to live with for the rest of her life, and something she is going to have to deal with. The more everyone pities her and walks on eggshells around her, the more she is going to pull away from us."

"I just want to kill the bastard that did this to her."

"On that point, we agree."

They spent the rest of the ride and silence and Natalie was left alone with her thoughts. After talking about Jessica, Natalie could help but remember all the times John had been there for her. No matter what situation she was in, or how bad things got, he was there and never treated her any differently.

Despite everything that had happened, she was lucky to have him in her life.

Natalie didn't speak again until they were entering the house. "You just have to be there for her." She said once more, before turning for the stairs and heading up to her room.